Bill Belichick Secures First Power Four Win in UNC Victory

UPDATE: Bill Belichick has achieved a significant milestone in his coaching career, capturing his first victory against a Power Four school as North Carolina defeated Syracuse 27-10 on October 31, 2025. The game took place at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York, marking a key moment for Belichick in his tenure at UNC.

This victory comes as a relief for Belichick, who faced challenges in his earlier games. Notably, former New England Patriots running back Damien Harris highlighted that Belichick’s initial struggles weren’t surprising, given the circumstances around the team. Syracuse’s decision to start walk-on quarterback Joe Filardi, a true freshman, proved pivotal as the Orange grappled with injuries to their key players.

Syracuse’s starting quarterback, Steve Angeli, was sidelined for the season with an Achilles injury, forcing the team to rely on Filardi, who struggled throughout the game. He completed just 4 of 18 passes for 39 yards, unable to mount a successful offense against the Tar Heels.

On the other hand, North Carolina’s offense showed marked improvement. Quarterback Gio Lopez completed 15 of 19 passes for 216 yards and threw two touchdowns, while running back Demon June shone with 101 rushing yards and an additional 81 receiving yards, contributing both a rushing and a receiving touchdown.

Belichick expressed his satisfaction after the game, stating, “Feels good. Feels great. We had a couple of opportunities the last couple of weeks that we couldn’t capitalize on. It was good to get this one.” He added, “We all know in football it’s not who you play, it’s when you play them. We were probably fortunate to get them now.”

Looking ahead, North Carolina aims to build on this victory as they prepare to face Stanford, who currently holds a record of 3-5, next Saturday. Meanwhile, Syracuse, now on a five-game losing streak, will seek to rebound against Miami this weekend.

This game marks a turning point for Belichick and the Tar Heels, signaling potential growth in their season. Stay tuned for more updates as both teams navigate the challenges ahead.

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